Windmill.



' PATBNTED OCT. 24, 1905.

E. G. ABBEY.

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION 12mm) my a, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fi il-J ,9 EiL w NVENTOR M m/w ATTUPMW WITNESSES, I (TQMMJFIB en/K W'VAAZL PATBNTED OCT. 24, 1905;

E. G. ABBEY.

WINDMILL. APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 8, 1905.

3 SHBBTS-SHEBT 2.

"v vfmEs sEsh //\/'v TOR Tam/HUB UM r22r4 I No. 802,791.

PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

B. a. AiKBBY. I

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WITNESSES. IQMIYMUQB EDDIE G. ABBEY, OF CARTHAGE, MISSOURI.

WINDMILL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2*, 1905.

fnplication filec May 8. 1905- erial No. 259.379.

. souri, have invented a new and useful Wind- Motor, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to improvements in wind-motors of the horizontal class; and the objects. of my improvements are, first, to produce a simple and comparatively inexpensive 'device of this character having a continuous movement regardless of the direction of the wind; second, to provide anovel form of horizontal wind-motor which automatically adjusts itself to the changed conditions of the wind; third, to provide a novel form of an entirely automatic valvular wind-motor in which deep flaring frames carrying valvular sails or blades are so constructed as to offer the least resistance in traveling against the wind and yet retaining the greatest possible pressure when traveling from the wind; fourth, to provide facilities for automatically governing the speed of the motor; fifth, to provide a means whereby the valvular sails or biades may move quickly and easily from an operative to an inoperative position, and vice versa; sixth, to provide facilities for stopping the motor and protecting it from injury during a storm and automatically returning same to driving position; seventh, to provide means for adapting the motor to operate practically without noise; eighth, to provide such an arrangement of trusses upon the vertical shaft of the motor as shall both support the horizontal carryingframes and hold the shaft rigid; ninth, to provide a novel form of wind-motor wherein valvular sails or blades of equal or varying width are pivotedly disposed in a deep flaring frame and adapted to move outward to an inoperative position under the influence of centrifugal force, and in this connection a still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of wind-motor of the horizontal class, in which valvular sails or blades are vertically pivoted in a deep flaring frame at their extreme outer edge when closed and adapted to open automatically when traveling against the wind, and thereby offering no resistance thereto; tenth, to provide a novel arrange ment of valvular sails or blades horizontally disposed about a vertical shaft to which they are connected, which shall automatically operate so as to present a greater surface to the wind when traveling before it than when traveling against it, and thus produce a conv tinuous rotary movement in a horizontal plane about said shaft; eleventh, to provide a novel form of an entirely automatic windmotor of a continuous rotary valvular action, wherein deep valvecarrying frames are disposed upon a vertical shaft in sets, the number of sets varying in accordance with the desired power of the motor, and in this connection a further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of horizontal windmotor the power of which is unlimited.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general view of a wind-motor embodying my invention, showing the valves or blades in driving position, the near post or standard being broken away to show the parts behind. Fig. Qis a view of a sail-carrying frame turned to non-driving position. Fig. 3 illustrates the same view as Fig. 2, except that the blades are of varying widths. Fig. illustrates a top view of sail-carrying frame, the top side of frame being removed and showing the blades in open position. Fig. 6 represents a cross-section of one blade. Fig. 5 represents successive positions of the frame and blades in traveling about the vertical shaft.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a tower or supporting-frame comprising a base 2 and a plurality of standards 3 arising from the base and connected at their upper ends in any suitable manner. These parts may be of any suitable construction and material adapting them for the performance of functions herein set forth.

Sustained for rotation within the frame 1 is a shaft 4;, having bearing at its lower end in astep 5, provided at the center of the base 2, and at its upper end in a bearing 6, sustained by guys 7, engaged with the posts or standards 3, said shaft being further sustained and strengthened by a system of trusses 11.

While the shaft is preferably sustained in its vertical position in the manner just described,

IIO

it is to be understood that any preferred mode of mounting the shaft may be resorted to without departing from my invention.

Provided upon shaft4: and firmly connected thereto are collars9 and 9, arranged in pairs vertically above each other, to which are connected the horizontal bars 8 and 8 of a rectangular supporting-frame 13. The said horizontal bars of supporting-frame 13 are stiff- ,ened laterally by braces 20 and 20' and are connected with said truss 11 and extend beyond said truss a sufficient distance to provide a support foran open. deep, rectangular, sailcarrying frame 1 2,-for' which bar 8 constitutes an axis.

The sail-carrying frames 12 each are pivotall y connected to said arms 8' by means of eyes 10 and 10'. Each frame 12 has aplurality of sails or blades of equal orvarying widths, vertically pivoted in the frame at the top and bottom, the pivotalconnection being at the extreme outer edge of the sails when closed. Attention is here directed to the fact that the frames are normally maintained in a substantially vertical position and that when in said position the wind may strike directlyupon and thus act with full driving force against the sails .14., which latter, however, as they move against the wind swing automatically to an open position, thereby offering no resistance to the wind.

Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view of asail or blade 14. showing the rolled or turned edges. The rod 25. projects beyond the blade and constitutes its pivotal connection in the frame. The blade is made, preferably, of sheet metal. By rolling the edges of theblades as illustrated the driving power of the motor is increased by retaining the pressure of the wind upon the surface of the blades, especially at open operative position, andthe blade is also strengthened by this construction.

Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view through the frame 12 and blades 14, showing said blades atan open position. Said frame is preferably made of sheet metal or other suitable material, is a deep flaring rectangular frame, either flat or concave, with its outer edge rolled inward. This form of frame offers the least possible resistance to windwhen traveling against it, and, furthermore, retains the pressure of the wind upon the. surface of the bladesand also upon the inner surface of the frame, thereby increasing the power .of the motor. The above construction also adds strength to the frame.

In frame, 12 each blade 14: has attached thereto adjacent to its outer free edge one end of a chain, cable, or a flexible or other suitable element 24:, said chain being attached to said blade at a point above the arm 8 equivalent to the width of the said blade 14:. The length of said chain 24 should be equal to the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle, the length of the other two sides of which are each equal to the width of the blade to which it is attached. The other end of said chain 24. is connected to cross-bar 23 at a point adjacent to the point of attachment of said chain 23 to blade 14 when closed. From this construction it is evident that in case blades of varying width are used, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the bar 23 will vary from the horizontal in order to offer a place of. attachment for chain 24 at a point adjacent to its point of attachment to the blade when closed as aforesaid.

Fig. 5 illustrates the action of the wind upon the sails as they move through that half of the circle about shaft 4: which carries them against the wind. The arrow points the direction of the wind. (0, b, 0, (Z, 6, f, and 1 illustrate successive positions of the frame 12 and sails lfh as they travel through the arc w yabout the shaft iagainst the wind. As frame 12 moves from position a, to position b the wind striking upon the back of the sails forces them to an open position. The chain 1 L acts as a stop and limits the position to which the sails open to about ninety degrees from its position when closed. In this position the wind strikes upon the surface of the sails at an angle, as illustrated by dotted lines m n, and is reflected along the dotted line it 0. This reflection gives a driving power to the crease thepower of the motor until the frame arrives at position (Z, where the sails stand in direct line with the wind, and from this position advance to positions 6, f, and g, the sails taking their direction with the flow of the wind without resistance thereto. 'In this manner the blades gradually close in frame 12 as the said frame approaches position 9. Flexible stops 29 are adjusted in frame 12 to receivethe blades as they close and reduce the noise and jar of closing. At g the blades attain a closed operative position ready to receive the pressure of the wind within the frame as it moves before the wind toward po sition a again.

lt-is evident that as the velocity of the.motor increases the blades will be affected by the action of centrifugal force, which will tend to throw the blades into an open inoperative position. If blades of varying widths are used, the wider blades may be placed farthest from the center of rotati0n,and thus be more quickly affected by centrifugal force. In this way the motor becomesautomatically self-governing. As the wind, and consequently the speed of the motor, increases, the action of centrifugal force tends to throw the blades to an open inoperative position, and thus reduce the driving-surface of the blades presented to the wind, andthereby the speed of the motor is reduced. As the speed of the motor is reduced the action of centrifugal force becomes less and the wind will be able to force the blades into a closed operative position, and

sails-in the direction 0 n, which tends to inas increase the speed of the motor. It will adily be understood, therefore, that in traving against the wind the sails or blades ove to an open position to an angle not reater than ninety degrees from its position when closed, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The motor is more perfectly governed under all conditions of the wind by using sails or blades of varying widths, the width of said blades increasing in width as the circumference of 'the circle increases in which they travel. (See Fig. 3.) The wider blades being more readily acted upon by centrifugal force will move outward to inoperative position, as the velocity of the motor increases more quickly than the narrow blades, and in this way automatically regulate the motor to correspond to the velocity of the wind.

Each frame has thereon an outwardly-projecting arm or lever 22, to the outer end of which is attached one end of a normally contracted spring 21, having its other end connected in turn with the arm 8, and thus maintains the frame 12 in its normal vertical position. Attached to the outer end of and extending downward from each said arm 22 is a wire or rod or other suitable connection 25,

the lower ends of which are engaged with a sleeve or collar 19, disposed upon and for sliding movement longitudinally of the shaft 4, adjacent to the lower end of the latter. Immediately above said collar and coiled about said shaft4 is an equalizing-spring 26, adapted to offer downward traction against said collar to counterbalance the action of springs 21 above. Said collar 19 is movable upon shaft 4; by means of an operating member 28, engaged with and movable longitudinally of a screw 21, sustained for rotation by a suitable bearing or standard attached to and arising from the base 2, the screw being provided at its upper end with a suitable operatinghandle. From this arrangement it is apparent that as the screw is rotated the member 20 will move upward or downward thereon, thus moving the sleeve 19 upward or downward on the shaft 1, and that as the sleeve moves downward the rods will exertdownward traction upon their respective arms 22, thereby moving the frames 12 to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, and thus throwing the sails out of the wind, as above explained. As the arms 22 are drawn downward by the rods 25 the springs 21 will expand and will thus serve to automatically return the frame 12 to a normal vertical position when the operating-lever 28 is released. The blades will be automatically closed as the frames are swung to a horizontal position.

The frames 12 may be swung from a vertical toward a horizontal position, revolving about the axis 8', in Which position the wind will be caused to strike at an angle upon the sails, whereby the latter may be adjusted to accord with the velocity of the wind or for regulating'the speed of the shaft 4, it being understood that the sails may be thrown entirely out of action, and the motor thus stopped, by bringing the sail-carrying frames to a horizontal position.

From the foregoing it is apparent that in practice the blades may by proper manipulation of the operating-screw be thrown more or less out of the wind, according as it is desired to control or regulate the speed of shaft 4, and, further, that the blades .may, as before stated, swing freely for ofiering practically no resistance to the wind when advancing against the latter. In attaining these ends I do not limit myself to the precise details herein shown and described, inasmuch as minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

'hat is clain'ied is 1. In a wind or air motor a vertical trussed shaft, a plurality of radially-disposed supporting-frames vertically connected to said shaft, horizontally-disposed braces for connecting said frames to each other, a deep flaring frame pivotal] y connected to the bottom bar of each said supporting-frame, means for moving the said deep flaring frame, a plurality of sails having rolled edges vertically pivoted in the normally vertical deep flaring frame, the pivoted connections being at the extreme outer edges of the sails when closed, to swing in a plane from an operative to an inoperative position substantially as set forth.

2. In a wind or air motor a vertical shaft, a plurality of supporting-frames connected thereto, an open deep flaring sail-carrying frame having a concaved' interior and a convexed exterior surface to conform thereto, normally horizontally pivoted to each said supporting-frame, a plurality of sails, of equal width vertically pivoted in said sail-carrying frames, their pivotal connection beingat their extreme outer edges when closed, means for moving said sail-carrying frames to an inoperative position and a spring for automatically returning said frames to an operative position, substantially as set forth.

3. ln a wind or air motor, a vertical rotary shaft a plurality of radially-disposed supporting-frames carried thereby, a deep, rectangular sail-carrying frame pivotally connected to the bottom bar of each said supporting-frame, means for moving the said sail-carrying frame, a plurality of sails vertically pivoted in said sail-carrying frame, the pivotal'connections being at the extreme outer edge of the sails when closed and each said sail adapted to move outward to an inoperative position when traveling against the wind under the pressure of the wind and the influence of centrifugal force, substantially as set forth.

4. In a wind or air motor, a plurality of truss-rods, a verticalshaft to which the trussrods are longitudinally connected a plurality of supporting-frames radially connected to said shaft and truss-rods, deep flaring, sailcarrying frames pivotally connected to the bottom bar of each said supporting-frame, means for moving the said sail-carrying frame, a plurality of sails or blades vertically pivoted in each sailcarrying frame, the pivotal connection being at the extreme outer edge of the sails or blades when closed, said sails or blades to revolve about the said vertical shaft from a closed operative, to an open operative position, and from said open operative position to an open inoperative position to a closed operative position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a wind or air motor the combination with a vertical trussed shaft, of a deep flaring sail-carrying frame radially and pivotally connected therewith, means for moving said sailcarrying frame, a plurality of valvular sails or blades vertically pivoted in said frame, the pivotal connections being at the extreme outer edge of said sails or blades when closed and adapted to revolve about the said vertical shaft from an open to a closed position and from the said closed position to the said open position, an operating-chain or other element connected to each said valvular sail or blade and shaft and adapted to close the said valvular sails or blades simultaneously with the movement of, the frame to a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

6. In a wind, or air motor'a vertical trussed shaft, a plurality of radially-disposed supporting-frames connected to said shaft in one or more sets, a deep sail-carrying frame havpivotally connected to the bottom horizontal bar of each said supporting-frame, means for moving the said sail-carrylngframe to an inoperative position and a spring for automatically returning said frame to an operative position, a plurality of sails vertically pivoted in the said sail-carrying frame at their extreme outer edges when closed, a horizontal or inclined bar carried by the said supportingframe, a chain or other suitable operating element connected to each said sail and horizontal or inclined bar, and adapted to close the said sails simultaneously with the movement of the said supporting-frame to an inoperative position substantially as set forth.

7 In a wind 01' air motor a vertical shaft, a plurality of supportingframes, connected thereto, a deep sail-carrying frame, horizontally pivoted to each said supporting-frame, a plurality of sails having rolled edges, vertically pivoted in said sail-carrying frame, the pivotal connection being at the extreme outer edge of said sails when closed, a horizontal or inclined bar carried by said supporting-frame, a chain or other suitable element connected to each of said blades, the other end of each said chain connected to said horizontal or inclined bar and adapted to close said sails or blades simultaneously with the movement of the said frame to a horizontal position, cushioned spring-steps connected in said sail-Cari ing frame to receive said sails or blades wh closed substantially, as set forth.

8. In a wind or air motor the combinatil with a vertical trussed shaft of a deep rectan gular sail-carrying frame radially and pivotally connected therewith, flexible cushioned steps connected in said frame, means for moving the frame, a plurality of narrow sails or blades having turned edges vertically pivoted in said frame at their extreme outer edges when closed in said frame against said stops, said sails to revolve about the said shaft from an operative to an inoperative position, and a flexible operating element connected to each said sail and shaft and adapted to close the sails or blades simultaneously with the movement of the frame to a horizontal or inoperative position, substantially as set forth.

9. In a Wind or air motor a vertical shaft, a plurality of supporting-frames connected to said shaft and radially disposed inone or more sets thereon, adeep flaring sail-carrying frame having flat or concave bottom, top and side sheets horizontally pivoted to each said supporting-frame, means for moving said sailcarrying frame, a plurality of operating-sails having rolled edges vertically pivoted in each said sail-carrying frame, the pivotal connections being at the extreme outer edges of the sails when closed and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane from an operative to an inoperative position and from an inoperative position to the said operative position and means for operating the said sails, substantially as set forth.

10. In a wind or air motor a vertical shaft, a plurality of vertically-disposed supportingframes radially connected to said shaft, said supporting-frames being disposed in one or more sets thereon, a deep sail-carrying frame horizontally pivoted to each said supportingframe, means for moving the said sail-carrying frames to a horizontal position and aspring connected to said frames and shaft and adapted to return said frames to a vertical position, a plurality of operating-sails having turned edges vertically pivoted in said sail-carrying frames, the pivotal connections being at their extreme outer edges when closed, said sails or blades to swing in a plane from an operative to an inoperative position, means for reducing the movement of the said sails or blades and automatically throwing them proportionately out of the wind, substantially as set forth.

11. In a wind or air motor a vertical trussed shaft, a plurality of vertically-disposed supporting-frames radially connected to said shaft and trusses of said shaft, a deep flaring sailcarrying frame pivotally connected to the bottom bars of each said supporting-frame, a lever or arm connected to the inner side sheet of each said sail-carrying frame adjacent to the pivotal connections thereof, and a spring connected to each said lever or arm and the )ar of said supporting-frame, a vertiovable collar on and adjacent to the of said vertical shaft, a spring to exert tICl traction on said collar, rods or or connecting the said collar to said ler arms, a vertical rotary screw means otating said screw, a lever threaded on V screw and adapted to adjust the said collar and hold said collar in any position of adjustment to which the screw-lever may be I stopped, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- 

